UF drops proposed CISE cuts; alternative in the works

Wednesday

Apr 25, 2012 at 6:57 PM

Following what he called an "overwhelming negative response" to the proposal, University of Florida President Bernie Machen announced Wednesday that a plan for cuts to the computer and information science and engineering department was being set aside and an alternative was being developed.

By Nathan CrabbeStaff writer

Following what he called an "overwhelming negative response" to the proposal, University of Florida President Bernie Machen announced Wednesday that a plan for cuts to the computer and information science and engineering department was being set aside and that an alternative was being developed.

In an email to faculty and staff, Machen said the department chairmen of computer and information science and engineering (CISE) and electrical and computer engineering have developed the framework of a new plan for a joint organization of the two departments.

The interim chairman of CISE, Gerhard Ritter, said he hoped faculty would see the plan as a good alternative.

"Hopefully, the vast majority will see that it's an opportunity instead of a negative," he said.

Some faculty and students reacted with cautious optimism. CISE professor Sartaj Sahni said he was happy that the university abandoned a plan that "made no sense at all" but noted that members of his department had voted against a previous plan for a similar merger.

"I think it just exposes the whole political nature of this exercise, which has damaged the reputation of the university and the college," he said. "It could take years to recover."

Earlier this month, College of Engineering Dean Cammy Abernathy announced a proposal to address budget cuts that would have eliminated research and teaching assistants in CISE. Computer engineering programs and about half the faculty would have moved into other college departments, with the remaining faculty focusing on teaching computer science students.

Faculty and students opposed the plan, saying it would have gutted the department and effectively ended the computer science program at UF, and they found allies through a campaign that has caught fire online in recent days. Machen acknowledged that negative response in his message, although he said he believed it was based on a misunderstanding.

"Nonetheless, it is clear that the University of Florida must figure out a way to make it through these financially difficult times in a productive manner," he said. "I am optimistic we can do that."

Ritter said the new proposal would preserve research and faculty positions, although some staff would be lost. The combined department would be similar to a school and save money by sharing costs, he said, as well as bring greater attention and research.

"I think the majority of the faculty will be on board," he said.

Sahni said that "coming from near death to close to life" could change opinions about previous plans for such a merger. CISE doctoral student Nuri Yeralan, a leader in opposition to the initial proposal, said he was waiting to see how faculty worked out the details but that he was cautiously optimistic about the proposal.

"This whole thing has been so ugly," he said. "We still have the opportunity to turn this into a net positive."

Contact staff reporter Nathan Crabbe at 338-3176 or nathan.crabbe@gvillesun.com. For more stories on the University of Florida, visit www.thecampussun.com.